Valve mechanism



Feb. 22 1927.

A VALVE MECHANISM Filed sept. 25, 1925 C. G. SWANSTROM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 a 1,618,687 Feb. 22, 1927' c.y G. swANsTRoM VALVE MEGHANI SM .'5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed sept, 25, 1925 @x www@ Patented 22, 1927.'

uNiTEDLsTATEs cam. e. swANs'rnoM, or BUrFALo, inNNEso'ra.

Application ledsepteinber 25, 1925. Serial No. 58,617.

. The 'present invention relates to internal combustion engines, and particularly to those of the automotive type, and to certain improvements in the valve gear of the same. f At the present time there are in use two distinct types of valve` gear for internal combustion engines. One type employs.

poppet valves which are 'more generally used for the admission of the gas mixture and for the exhausting of the burnt gases. These poppet valves when placedin the side of the cylinders, such as onL and T head'-` stantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

engines provide gas pockets which prevent the complete scavenging of the cylinder onA the exhaust stroke. The valve inthe head engine does vnot have these pockets, but the poppet valves in this type are usually quite noisy and' .require frequent grinding and adjustment.

to a limited extent, is the sleeve valve 4which is considered relatively expensive in the construction of the'valve and engine and for eiiicient work is therefore limited to a few high priced automobiles.

An object of the present invention is to provide a valve and valve gear eliminating the disadvantages and defects of both the poppet and sleeve valves, and which at the same time has peculiar advantages notA found in prior valve -gear structures.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve gear for internal combustion engines so arranged and constructed that a single valve gearV shaft may be employed for operating other parts of the engine aside from the valves, such as the fan,4 the distributor, the circuit breaker, the generator and the like, ythe entire assemblage being such as to present a V'compact and readily accessible structure. l

'A vstill further object of the invention is to provide, in conjunction with the valvev gear, an improved lubricating means'` for supplying a lubricant positively to the valve gear and to regulate the flow of oil over the various .contacting surfaces.

The invention still further aimsat the provision of improved means associated with the valve gear for automaticallymaintaining a'par of slides inv close but sliding 'Contact under the widely varying temperaturesl to which the valve-gear and adjacent parts are subjected during the different stages of operationV of the. engine;

The abovejland various other objects and The second type of valvenow used, but.l 4 4 of Fig. 1.

and leads to a'valve guide 33 whichextends advantages of the invention will -in'part be understood from, and in part be described in the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same be- 60 ing illustrated in-the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Fig.. 1 is a side elevation, partly in sec- Y tion, of an internal combustion engine having valve gear constructed according to the present invention applied thereto.-

Fig. 2 is a horizontal" section taken through the upper portion of the engine sub- Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal section taken through the top of the engine substantially .on the line 3-3 of Fig.1.

`Fig. 4 is a transverse section' taken through the engine substantially on the line Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section takenthrough the valve guide with the valves and compensating means therein, substantially on the line 5--5 of Fig.' 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section through the valve guide and oil regulator taken substantially on theline 6 -6 ofFigzl.'` j L Fig. 7 -s a detail bottom plan view of one of the valve compensators, enlarged vand partly broken away, and

Fig. 8A is a fragmentary enlarged section taken through the rear end of the valve'f guide and adjacent parts, showing the oil pump and its connection to the valve guide.

Referring to the drawings 20 designates a cylinder block of usual form, and shown in the present` instancev as having four cy1 inders 21 provided with a water jacket 22 and seated upon the upper portion 23 of the crankcase, the latter having a lower sec-v tion 24in which 'the oil pan 25 is mounted. The crank 'case hasa breather pipe 26 at one side of the upperv section 23 closedvbyva removable cap 27 in Athe usual, manner..

spective Acylinder 21 and connected at its upper end to a piston 31 in the cylinder 21. The' upper end or head of the cylinder 21 has an inclined wall 32 which slopes up?. wardly.lv toward one side of the cylinder 21 110 lengthwise of the block 2O and communicates A of the block.

with the respective c linders 21 through Vor the like is p aoed over the head 32 and forms therewith a water jacket for the head The valve guide 33 is provided with a rectangular passage therein extending the entire len h of the valve guide and arranged to euse a. pair of relativel slidab e valve plates 38 and 39 which are a o adapted for lon 'tudinal shifting in the valve guide' 33. he valve plates 38 and 39 are substantially triangular in cross section and have their inner meeting, faces bevelled or inclined from edge to edge and arel placed in the valve guide 33 in an edgewise vertical position. As shown, the inner valve plate 39 is provided withits wider or base edge at thepbottom of the ide 33 and seated uponrollers 40 one pre erably op osite each cylinder 21. 'he rollers 40 are isposed in a longitudinal groove or recess 41 formed in the guide 33 at its bottom, and the upper portion of 'the groove 41 is laterally enlarged or freel receiving the adjacent lower ends of the v ve plates 38 and 39. i

In order to maintain the rollers 40 in properly spaced relation to support theinner gui e p ate39, the latter is provided, opposite each c linder,21, with spaced sto ugs 42 adapte to confine the adjacent ro er 40 in position and atth'e saine time permit of the free movement of the roller when theV valve plate 39 is shifted.

The outer valve plate 38 has its base or wider edge in the top of the valve guide 33 is provided, V-in register with the lugs 42, withspaced stop lu 43 between each pair of which is moun ers 44 are-provided in the structure shown, and each pair of rollers at opposite ends of the en ine is provided with a compensating block 4 having a reatively horizontal lower `face adapted to restupon the rollers 44 and which have inclined npperfaces which ex ends, annpstandmg apertured mma? tend downwardly toward each other and which slid'ably e depending abutments 46 carried upon e inner sideof a housing 47 'which is secured overand along the top ofthevalveguide33.

Each compensating on its lower side with a steel Strip or'shoe 48, and onits upper-side with a second steel strip or shoe49 to take np'wear. "Ihe upper shoes 4 9 each have, near their lower adjacent 'f. lusltnd .a contracting qiring 51 is 'mounted in the compensating Modi! a roller Four rollblock 45 comprises la" fwedge shaped oopperbody portion provided 45 and connected at opposite ends to the lu s for normally urging the blocks to sli e toward each other. A removable plate 52 is preferably placed on the intermediate portion of the housin 47 to admit of convenient access to the spring 51 and adjacent parts for convenience inassembly, adjustment and re air.

Ihe valve plates 38 and 39 are provided with slots or passages 53 and -54 therethrough adapted to be brought into register with each other and also with the rts 34 in the sides of the cylinders21 to e ect the intake and exhaust of the explosive mixture and the burnt gases in4 roperly timed relation. The exteriorwall) of the valve uide 33 is provided with continuations o the ports 34 so that the exhaust and intake manifolds, either singl or combined, may be attached to the si e `of the engine block in the usual manner. Y

The valve plates 38 and 39 are operated by a valve shaft 55 lwhich is mounted vertically at the forward end of the engine and encased in a housing 56 in tlie form of a 91 plate 4secured to the forward end of the indicated at 56, establishes communication 9;

between the valve guide 33 and the forward end of the crank case 23. The shaft 55 is provided, in longitudinal ali ment with the valve guide 33, with a pair o crank portions- 58 an to the valve plates 39 and 38 by connecting rods 6() and 61. The vforward ends of the. plates 38 and 39 have forked arms 62 and 63 which project from the respective upper and' lower edge portions ofthe lvalve ates line with the connecting rods 61 an 60, and which are preferably oiset' into overlapping relation and into longitudinal alignment with the valve shaft 55.

The valve shaft 55 may be extended up- `1 also provided with a gear wheel 64 arranged i in proximity to the fan 65 of the engine ,and

meshin with a second gear wheel 66 mounted on e fan shaft 67 `for positively driving the same and eliminating the use of the usual drive belt. i

The valve yshaft 4,55 is driven by a wheel 68 mounted on the lower end o the ilfirf 3`1ltttl`hthfomk i'lm 28 r ving e a ere m t of the valve shaft 55 being the-crank shaft for operating the valves. 1

'-In order to lubricate the valve lplatee8` :pil 89, and. the other operating' Mm 've gear apnm 69 isVA againd thevll'puid 88] .59 which are respectively connected 1 ini one half that of 1 69 and'is connected by and connected at its outer end by a pi e70 tothe crank case 23.' -A check valve 1 1s fitted in .the outer end of the pump case 69 at the top ofthe' pipe 70 to prevent the backwardor downward ow of oil into the crank case. lA plunger 72 is mounted in the casing rear end of one of the slide plates, such as the inner plate 39 as shown in Fig. 2. The plun r 72 is provided witha check valve 74 whic opens inwardly toward the valve guide :33. As the valve plate 39 reciprocates 'the plunger' 72 draws oil upwardly through the t pipe 70 and through thepump casing 69 into the valveguide. v

As `shown in Fig. 8', thei rear 'endof thevalve guide 33 and the casing 47 are provided with clearances .opening into the plunger casing 69,- and the latteris enlarged, for d1- recting the incoming oil into the housing 47 and also beneath the valve plates 38 and 39 to lubricate all contacting surfaces in :both the valve guide 33 and its housing 47. The

oil is fed forwardly through the casing v47 and over the valve plates 38-and 39, ana also through the lower groove or recess 41 in the vbottom ofthe valve guide 33, and the oil is thus brought into contact with the connectwardly through the top of the casing 47 and v ing rods 60 and 61 The oil 'is now permitted to pass downwardly throughthe valve shaftI casing 56 back into the crank case 23.

The passage of the voil through the for-' ward end'of the housing 47 is regulated by 'a screw valve 75 which is threaded downwhich projects -into ali opening 7 6, formed in I the-lower end of a bale plate 77 projecting Idownwardly from the top of. the housing :47 near its forward end. By raising the tainedA about the'valve plates 38 and screw 75 the flow; ofe the oil is. 'increased throu h the -topfof the Acasing47 and consequent y the correct amount o yoil maybe re 39 and their compensating blocks 45. In operation, as the crank shaft rotates *A the valve shaft and, through the connect-f ing rods 6 0 ,and 61 the valve plates 38 and 39 are lreciprocated back and forth in th'e valve guide 33-and againsteach other. It will'be noted that the forks inthe arms 62 and @63 are relativelyjwide to permit of the vertical shifting of the valve plates 38 and 39 against each other without blndinI on the' connecting? rods 60 and" 61, such shi ing occuri-ing gradually and to a veryjslight de grec incident to wear and also to temperature changes which effect the expansionand contractlon` ofthe parts. j

The compensating blocks 45 are adapted to at all times maintain the rollers 44 1n contact withn the outer valve plate 38 and the spring '51' is utilized in sliding' the wedge shaped blocks 45l to maintain a. constant pres.

a stem 73 with the.

and their bearings and sure between the valvel plates. The lower shoes 48 of the slide blocks are preferablymade in sections which meet intermediately of the blocksand which 'are coupled together bya retaining screw 78 which has a headon vits lower end engaging the meeting ends of at their intermediate portions; as the heat i-ncreases andl conse uentlyjthe pressure/of the opposite ends of t e blocks on the rollers 44 is decreased andpermits ofthe expansion of the valve plates 38 and 39 without binding against each otherv and in the valve guide 33.-

This copper and steel combination in the compensating block 45 is required as the angle of the block must be suiliciently sharp so that the pressure incident to thefeirplosions in the motor against the valve plates 38 and` 39 will not cause the blocks 45 to work against the. spring 51...

It is of course understood thatvarious changes and modifications may be'm'ade in the details of construction and design of the above 'specificallyo describedembodiment of;

the valve gear without de arting from they spirit'of the invention, an being restricted only by the scope of the following What is claimed is:l 1. In valve gear for internal combustion claims.

engines, a valve guide mounted upon one side ofthe engine and communicating with the cylinders thereof, a pair of Contacting plates mounted for longitudinal 'sliding movement in the guide `and against. each other-said plates having openings theiein adapted to register with each other andwith said cylinders, the contacting' surfaces oi said plates being transversely inclined,

means; for supporting the lower edge ofone of saidv plates, thermostatic means engaging the upper edge of the other plate to normally urge the latter downwardly and into contact with the first plate. and maintain an even pressure between the plates during temperature changes, a valve shaft connectedvto the engine and having crank portions opposite the plates," and-connecting rods between said crankportions andthe plates for longitudinally sliding the same. v-

2. -In 'valve gear for internal'combustion engines, a valve guide mounted along one side' ofthe engine,.a pairl 'of slide plates mounted in said guide and having openings communicating with each other and with the cylinders of the engine, ,operating means adapted` to warp downwardly between its ends when subjected to heat to relieve pressure of the block on the rollers and permit expansion of said slide plates, and means for regulating the position of the blocks to compensate vfor wear between the plates.

3. In valve ar for internal combustion engines,`a gui e arranged alon the side of the engine, a pair of .wedge siaped plates' mounted in surface contact in the guide and having openings therethrough for registry with'each other and with the cylinders of the engine, means for longitudinally sliding said plates, and thermostatic means for kmovingsaid plates relatively in an edgewise direction to maintain proper contact therebetween durm temperature changes.y

4. In com ination with an internal combustion engine, a valve guide arranged along one side of the engine, slide valves mounted -in the guide for communication with the cylinders of the engine` means between the engine and the slide valves for o eruting the latter, tension, means carried in tiie guide for engaging the plates to maintain the same in surface contact during temperature changes oil circulating means mounted upon "one end of the guide and connected to one ofsaid plates for operation thereby to feed oil into said end of the guide, communicatingimeans between the other end ofthe valve guide and the engine for returning oil thereto, and

adjustable means for controlling the passage/4 of oil throu h said guide.

5. In com inationy with an internal combustion engine, a valve guide at one side of the engine, a pair of sliding valve plates in the guide having openin s therethrough 60 leading to the cylinders of t e engine, operating means between the engine and the plates for reciprocating the same, an oil pump connected to one end .of the valve guide and having a plun rconnected to one of said sliding plates or operating the roil pump when the platesare reciprocated,

aconnection between the pump and the crank case of the engine to withdraw oil therefrom, a connection between the opposite end of the valve guide and the crank case for returning oil to the latter, a baille mounted in the guide, and a screw valve threaded through the guide and into the baille for regulating the passage Vof oil therethrough. 6

6. l'n valve gear for internal combustion engines, guide means arranged along one side of the engine, a plurality of valve plates mounted in said guide means and having inclined abutting faces, means lfor longitudinally moving said plates, tension means for maintaining proper contact between the plates during temperature changes, and lubricating means adapted to lubricate the plates.

7. In valve gear for internal combustion engines, guide means arranged along the side ofthe engine, valve plates mounted in the guideand adapted for longitudinal movement therein. operating means for longitudinally moving said plates, thermostatic means for-moving said plates relatively in an edgewse direction to` maintain proper contact therebetween during temperature changes, and Vmeans for lubricatmg the plates.

CARL G. swANsTRoM. 

